"WE SHOULD HAVE ALL THREE POINTS" - MALKY MACKAY POST BOLTON

Mackay happy with performance, but believes Latics should have beat Bolton.

Waghorn showing true professionalism after chance in second half.

Ben Amos performance big factor in denying victory.

Speaking after Wigan Athletic's 1-1 draw with Bolton Wanderers in the Sky Bet Championship at the DW Stadium, Latics' boss Malky Mackay says he was delighted with the late equaliser from substitute Martyn Waghorn, but believes his side should be coming away with all three points.

"I'm really proud of the players. The two teams really went at it in a terrific atmosphere with fantastic support from our fans a lots of noise as well from the Bolton end, it made for a very good local derby.

"I thought we were terrific, we had a lot of domination on the ball in the right territories. We created plenty of chances, hit the bar twice and at one point we really didn't know what to do to get the ball over the line because we were throwing everything at Bolton.

"Ben Amos had a fantastic game. He pulled off three unbelievable saves and he was the difference between us drawing and winning the game."

Latics fell behind to a Tom Walker goal on the 70th minute, against the run of play and with a huge hint of fortune as a low shot deflected in off Emmerson Boyce. On the goal Mackay added:

"You can't account for the way Bolton's goal went in, it's just a huge slice of misfortune for us. We defended really well throughout the game and to lose such an unlucky goal was really disappointing.

"What I was delighted about was the way the players came back from it, they didn't put their heads down and that's exactly what we ask of them.

"It's gives me great hope leading into these last seven games and we've got to keep showing courage."

On Waghorn's overhead kick to level the scores in the fourth minute of second half injury time, Mackay continued:

"We thoroughly deserved to score that late goal and I think we deserved all three points. We really had a go at Bolton in the second half and to top it off the quality of the goal was fantastic as well.

"Martyn showed what forwards are for, they're there to score goals. He's been the perfect professional, he had to bide his time and he knows that it's about taking your chances when you get them, that's exactly what he did today."

Another player receiving praise from Mackay was Norwich City loanee Josh Murphy, who was making his first start for Latics after his debut on Tuesday as a second half substitute against Watford.

"It's been very good to have Josh Murphy in our squad, I'm very grateful to Norwich for letting him come here and much like Sheyi Ojo he's showing great potential, but they've got a lot to learn in this division.

"Josh did well again today, created a number of chances, had a number of his own and I'm sure he'll get better for us whilst he's here."

With international fixtures now on the agenda and Latics' next game coming in April on Good Friday away to Middlesbrough, Mackay said it's a good time to freshen up.

"The international break falls at quite a kind time to allow us to regroup. James McClean's two game suspension is over now and it allows the lads who have been playing to get a breather, so we should come out of the other side of the break ready for the fight.

"Going into it the gap is now down to five points, and if we keep playing the way we did today then we'll keep knocking those points off.

"We need to win games between now and the end of the season to close the gap though, we can't be relying on other teams too much."